5 days ago
Revised Delhi-NCR GRAP Rules Expand Vehicle Restrictions Across More Areas
Delhi-NCR has a new plan for responding to air pollution.
The plan has four stages, and each one starts when the air quality gets worse.
Rules from an earlier stage stay in place when a later stage begins.
At the first stage, some buses from outside the region can enter only if they meet certain fuel or emissions requirements.
At the third stage, some older petrol and diesel cars face restrictions in Delhi and named nearby districts.
Sonipat has been added to the districts covered by those car restrictions.
At the fourth stage, most heavy goods vehicles cannot enter Delhi unless they meet specified standards or use certain fuels.
The plan does not automatically ban all private cars, though authorities may consider an odd-even rule at the most severe stage.
The Commission for Air Quality Management announced a revised four-stage GRAP framework on September 29, 2026.
Each stage is triggered by Delhi’s AQI, and its measures continue when higher stages take effect.
At Stage I, certain inter-city and inter-state buses cannot enter Delhi-NCR unless they are electric, CNG or BS-VI diesel.
Stage III restrictions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel light motor vehicles extend to Sonipat, alongside specified districts in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Stage IV restricts heavy goods vehicles entering Delhi, while odd-even driving may be considered as an additional emergency measure.
- Who
- The Commission for Air Quality Management revised the GRAP framework for Delhi-NCR.
- What
- The revised plan sets four pollution-response stages and changes restrictions affecting vehicles and construction activity.
- Where
- Delhi and the National Capital Region, including specified districts in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
- When
- Announced September 29, 2026; measures apply when air-quality thresholds are reached or expected to be reached.
- Why
- To set pollution-control measures that escalate according to Delhi’s air quality.
Key facts
- Framework announced
- September 29, 2026
- Number of stages
- Four
- Stage I AQI
- 201–300, Poor
- Stage II AQI
- 301–400, Very Poor
- Stage III AQI
- 401–450, Severe
- Stage IV AQI
- Above 450, Severe+
- Stage III car restrictions
- Apply to BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel light motor vehicles and lower-standard vehicles in Delhi and specified NCR districts; adapted vehicles used by people with disabilities are exempt.
- Stage IV truck exemptions
- LNG, CNG, electric and BS-VI diesel heavy goods vehicles are exempt from the general entry restriction.
Sources
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